North Wales BikeSafe coordinator Paul Cheshire has been awarded an MBE for services to policing. The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) believes this to be a well deserved award in recognition of his tremendous contribution and dedication to the safety of motorcyclists in the region.

Paul retired from the North Wales police force in 2005, having spent the last twenty years of his police career in the traffic division. It was during this time that he helped set up rider improvement workshops, which developed into BikeSafe, for which he now coordinates the North Wales area, as a qualified examiner for IAM and RoSPA.

BikeSafe is a police led motorcycle project that is run by most forces throughout the UK and administrated by the MCIA. The main aim is to reduce the number of motorcyclists being hurt on the roads, by getting riders to attend day long assessments throughout their riding career. The BikeSafe philosophy is that riding should be fun. By improving skills, knowledge and hazard awareness it empowers the rider to manage the road better.

Karen Cole, Safety Director of the MCIA said: "The MCIA would like to add our thanks to Paul for all his work in helping to make BikeSafe so successful. Paul has had a hugely positive impact on the safety of motorcyclists in North Wales, having passed on his considerable skills to so many. It's great to see someone who's worked so hard for BikeSafe recognised in such a high profile way and it couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.'

Paul Cheshire was characteristically modest about the award: "There are many working towards the aims of BikeSafe and although this award is in recognition of one person, I certainly appreciate that it is the product of many who have been involved. I will be attending the Palace for the official ceremony later this year and the prospect of this is exciting to say the least. I know my wife, Heather, is looking forward especially, but I'm not certain if this has anything to do with Gary Barlow possibly being there!"